Optical scanner

ABSTRACT

An optical scanner suitable for scanning a vertical object. The optical scanner has a scanning body, a focusing device and a scanning module. The scanning body has a transparent window, the focusing device has an arm, a reflective mirror and a lens. One end of the arm is coupled to the scanning body, and the reflecting mirror and the lens are disposed on the arm. The scanning module is disposed in the scanning body with a shell, a lens and an optical sensor. The shell has a light cone opening, and the lens and optical sensor are disposed within the shell. The image of the vertical object is focused by the focusing device on the transparent window, incident to the scanning module via the light cone opening, and refracted by the lens to form an image on the optical sensor.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan applicationserial no. 91219954, filed Dec. 10, 2002.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates in general to an optical scanner having the powersource module, and more particularly, to an optical scanner suitable forscanning a vertical object.

2. Related Art of the Invention

The blackboard or whiteboard are commonly equipped in a meeting room ora classroom for the presenter to use chalk, marker or pen for making ordrawing notes. Before making new notes, the presenter has to erase thenotes written on the board first, such that the written notes cannot bestored for reference. Currently, an electronic whiteboard has beendeveloped allowing the written notes to be copied and stored on athermo-pressed paper.

However, such electronic white board is very expensive and difficult tocarry. In addition, the paper storage form has a shorter preserving timeand is easily damaged. Further, when a large amount of data is stored, alarge quantity of paper is required.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention provides an optical scanner suitable for scanninga vertical object. The data of the vertical object is stored as anoptical image. Therefore, the optical scanner is portable, low-cost andsuitable for application in any situation.

In addition to scanning a vertical object, the optical scanner providedby the present invention can also scan a horizontal object.

The optical scanner provided by the present invention can also be usedto scan a horizontal object in addition to the vertical object. Further,the optical scanner can also be used as a projector.

The optical scanner provided by the present invention comprises ascanning body, a focusing device and a scanning module. The scanningbody has a top surface with a transparent window. The focusing deviceincludes an arm, a reflective mirror and a lens. One end of the arm iscoupled to the scanning body, and the reflective mirror and the lens aredisposed on the arm. The lens is located in a reflecting path of thereflective mirror. The scanning module is located in the scanning bodyand comprises a shell, a lens and an optical sensor. The shell has alight cone opening, and the lens and the optical sensor are disposedwithin the shell. The optical sensor is located on the optical pathfollowing the lens. The imaging light of the vertical object isreflected to the lens by the reflective mirror, refracted by the lens tothe transparent window, incident on the scanning module through thelight cone opening, and refracted by the lens of the scanning module toform an image on the optical sensor. The optical scanner furthercomprises a fine tuning device disposed on the arm to reduce the heightof the arm, so as to adjust the focal length of the lens.

The above optical scanner is operative to scan a vertical object and ahorizontal object. A lid is pivotally connected to the scanning body.The lid is used to cover the transparent window, while the transparentwindow allows a horizontal object disposed thereon. The shell of thescanning module further comprises a light source incident on a surfaceof the horizontal object to generate an imaging light. The imaging lightentering the scanning module through the light cone opening is refractedby the lens of the scanning module to form an image on the opticalsensor. In addition, the lens disposed within the shell has dual focallengths; or alternatively, two lenses with different focal lengths aredisposed within the shell for generating two different optical paths forthe vertical and horizontal objects. The optical scanner furthercomprises a reflective mirror set disposed within the shell along theoptical path in front of the lens to further shrink the volume of thescanner.

The optical scanner further comprises a projecting lamp source disposedon an internal bottom of the scanning body to achieve the scanning andprojection functions. The light generated by the projecting lamp is usedto project the light image of the scanning margin to the vertical objectas a focusing reference prior to scanning.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

These, as well as other features of the present invention, will becomemore apparent upon reference to the following drawings.

FIG. 1A shows a perspective view of an external structure and a part ofscanning path for an optical scanner according to the first embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 1B shows a side view of an internal structure and the scanning pathof the optical scanner according to the present invention.

FIG. 2A shows a perspective view of an external structure of an opticalscanner in the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2B shows a side view of an internal structure and a scanning pathof the optical scanner in the second embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3A shows a perspective view of an external structure of an opticalscanner in the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3B shows a side view of an internal structure and a scanning pathof the optical scanner in the third embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, FIG. 1A shows a perspective view of anexternal structure and a part of scanning path in the first embodimentof the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a side view showing an internalstructure and the optical path.

The optical scanner 100 as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B is suitable for useto scan a vertical object 200 such as a blackboard or a whiteboard. Theoptical scanner 100 comprises a scanning body 110, a focusing device 120and a scanning module 130. The scanning body 110 is hollow inside with atop surface that comprises a transparent window 112. The focusing device120 includes an arm 122, a reflective mirror 124 and a lens 126. One endof the arm 122 extends from the scanning body 110. The reflective mirror124 and the lens 126 are disposed on the arm 122. The lens 126 islocated at a reflecting path of the reflective mirror 124. Thereflective mirror 124 can be pivotally connected to the arm 122 toextend or retract with a predetermined angle.

Referring to FIG. 1B, the scanning module is located within the scanningbody, and guiding mechanism and belt driving device are used toreciprocally move the scanning module 130 underneath the transparentwindow 112. The scanning module 130 comprises a shell 132, a lens 134and an optical sensor 136. The shell has a top surface that has a lightcone opening 132 a, and the lens 134 and the optical sensor 136 aredisposed within the shell 132. The optical sensor 136 is located along ascanning path of the lens 134.

When the optical scanner 100 is scanning a vertical object 200, animaging light is generated by radiating an external light source on thevertical object 200. The reflective mirror 124 reflects the imaginglight to the lens 126, which then refracts imaging light to project onthe transparent window 112. The imaging light then enters the scanningmodule by passing through the light cone opening 132 a. Being refractedby the lens 134, an image of the imaging light is formed on the opticalsensor 136. The optical scanner 100 may further comprises a fine tuningdevice 128 disposed on the arm 122. The fine tuning 128 device reducesthe height of the arm 122 and adjusts the focal length of the lens 126.

The optical scanner 100 can be linked with laptop computer or otherportable electronic products, such that the data of the vertical object200 can be permanently stored as an optical image.

According to the above, as the vertical object normally includes a largearea whiteboard or blackboard, when the scanning module 130 is scanningthe vertical object 130 longitudinally (from top to bottom) each pointor transversely (from left to right), the length of optical path fromeach point of the object entering the scanning module is different.Thereby, the image of the imaging light may not be resolvably formed onthe optical sensor 136. To improve such problem includes installing afine tuning device 128 or configuring the reflective lens 124 with acurved surface, such that the length of optical path for each point ofthe vertical object 200 is substantially identical and horizontallyreceived by the scanning module 130. Alternatively, the scanning module130 may be adjusted. For example, when the scanning module 130 useslongitudinal scanning mode to scan, the moving track of the scanningmodule 130 can be changed as shown as the arrow a in the figures. Whenthe transverse scanning is adapted, the scanning module 130 is inclinedwith an angle and displaced along the horizontal scanning direction.Therefore, the length of optical path for each point of the object isthe same, and the image can be clearly formed on the optical sensor 136.

Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, FIG. 2A shows a perspective view of anexternal structure of an optical scanner, and FIG. 2B shows the internalstructure and the optical path of the optical scanner.

In the second embodiment as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the opticalscanner 100 is suitable for use to scan a vertical object 200 and ahorizontal object 300. The structure for scanning the vertical object200 is similar to that as described in the first embodiment and is notrepeated here. The function for scanning the horizontal object 100 isdescribed as follows. To scan the horizontal object 100, a lid 114 ispivotally connected to the scanning body 110 to cover the transparentwindow 112. The lid 114 can be horizontally disposed on the transparentwindow 112. A line light source 138 is disposed on the shell 132 of thescanning module 130.

To perform scanning operation on the horizontal object 300, the object300 is disposed on the transparent window 112 and covered with the lid114. The line light source 138 radiates on a surface of the object 300to generate an imaging light traveling through the light cone opening132 a to enter the scanning module 130. The imaging light is thenrefracted by the 134 to form an image on the optical sensor 136. Only bylifting up the lid 114 can the scanning mode be switched from horizontalto vertical scanning. In addition, as the optical paths for scanningvertical and horizontal objects 200 and 300 are different, a lens withdual focal points is installed within the shell 132 of the scanningmodule 130. Alternatively, a first lens and a second lens with differentfocal lengths can be installed in the shell and switched between thevertical and horizontal scanning modes.

According to the above, a reflective mirror lens (not shown) can also beinstalled in the shell of the scanning module 130 to increase the lengthof optical length by multiple reflections. Thereby, the volume of thescanner 130 can be further reduced.

Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, FIG. 3A shows a perspective view of anexternal structure and a part of a projecting part of an opticalscanner, and FIG. 3B is a side view showing the internal structure andthe projecting part of the optical scanner.

In the third embodiment, in addition to the function of scanningvertical and horizontal objects as described in the first and secondembodiments, the optical scanner also has a projection function. Aprojecting lamp source 116 is disposed at an internal bottom of thescanning body 110. Before activating the projection function, thescanning module 130 is located at an inner edge of the scanning body 110to avoid blocking a light emitted from the projecting lamp source 116.While performing the projection function, the horizontal object 300 isdisposed on the transparent window 112. The horizontal object 300includes a transparency, for example. The light emitting from theprojecting lamp source 116 transmits through the horizontal object 300to form an imaging light source. The imaging light source is focused onthe reflective mirror 124 by the lens 126, and reflected from thereflective mirror 124 to the whiteboard or a white backdrop. It isappreciated that the projecting optical path is inverse to the opticalpath for scanning the vertical object and can thus be used as a focusingreference thereof. In other words, when the focusing process for theabove projecting optical path is performed, the focusing process for thescanning optical path is complete as well. The projecting mode can thusbe directly switched to the scanning mode to perform scanning operationon the vertical object.

Accordingly, the optical scanner provided by the present invention hasat least the following advantages.

1. The optical scanner is small, portable and low cost which improvesthe drawbacks for the conventional electronic whiteboard.

2. The optical scanner has both scanning and projecting functions andcan be used to scan large area vertical objects.

3. The optical scanner can be linked with portable electronic productssuch as laptop computer, such that the extracted data of the verticalobject can be permanently stored as an image file.

Other embodiments of the invention will appear to those skilled in theart from consideration of the specification and practice of theinvention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification andexamples are to be considered as exemplary only, while the true scopeand spirit of the invention are indicated by the following claims.

1-14. (canceled)
 15. A method, comprising: focusing an image of a firstobject through a transparent window of an optical scanner, wherein thefirst object is positioned remote from said transparent window; scanningthe image focused through the transparent window to obtain an image ofthe first object; and maintaining a constant length of optical pathbetween two or more points of the first object and a scanning module.16. The method of claim 15, wherein said maintaining a constant lengthcomprises moving the scanning module in a scanning direction during saidscanning of the image at an angle.
 17. The method of claim 15, whereinsaid maintaining a constant length comprises focusing an image of thefirst object through a reflective lens and fine tuning the position ofthe reflective lens.
 18. The method of claim 15, wherein saidmaintaining a constant length comprises focusing an image of the firstobject through a curved surface of a reflective lens.
 19. The method ofclaim 15, further comprising linking with an electronic device capableof storing the image obtained at said scanning.
 20. The method of claim15, further comprising illuminating the image with a light emanatingfrom a light source.
 21. The method of claim 15, further comprising: ina first mode, scanning the image focused through the transparent windowto obtain the image of the first object; and in a second mode, focusingan image of a second object through the transparent window of theoptical scanner, wherein the second object is positioned adjacent saidoptical scanner, and scanning the image focused through the transparentwindow to obtain an image of the second object.
 22. The method of claim15, further comprising: in a first mode, scanning the image focusedthrough the transparent window to obtain the image of the first object;in a second mode, focusing an image of a second object through thetransparent window of the optical scanner, wherein the second object ispositioned adjacent said optical scanner, and scanning the image focusedthrough the transparent window to obtain an image of the second object;and wherein said first object has a generally vertical orientation andwherein said second object has a generally horizontal orientation. 23.The method of claim 15, further comprising projecting an image from theoptical scanner.
 24. An apparatus, comprising: means for focusing animage of a first object through a transparent window of a scanning body,wherein said first object is positioned remote from said transparentwindow, means for scanning the image focused through the transparentwindow to obtain an image of the first object; and means for maintaininga constant length of optical path between two or more points of thefirst object and a scanning module of said means for scanning.
 25. Theapparatus of claim 24, wherein said means for maintaining a constantlength comprises means for moving the scanning module in a scanningdirection during said scanning of the image at an angle.
 26. Theapparatus of claim 24, wherein said means for maintaining a constantlength comprises means for focusing an image of the first object througha reflective lens and means for fine tuning the position of thereflective lens.
 27. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said means formaintaining a constant length comprises means for focusing an image ofthe first object through a curved surface of a reflective lens.
 28. Theapparatus of claim 24, further comprising means for linking with anelectronic device capable of storing the image obtained by said scanningmeans.
 29. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising means forilluminating the image for scanning.
 30. The apparatus of claim 24,further comprising means for scanning a second object positionedadjacent said scanning body.
 31. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein saidfirst object has a generally vertical orientation and wherein saidsecond object has a generally horizontal orientation.
 32. The apparatusof claim 24, further comprising means for projecting an image.
 33. Anapparatus, comprising: a scanning body; a transparent window disposed ona surface of the scanning body; a scanning module disposed within thescanning body; a focusing device, wherein the focusing device is capableof focusing an image of an object through the transparent window, theobject being disposed at a location remote from the transparent window;wherein the scanning module is capable of obtaining an image of theobject focused by said focusing device; and wherein the scanning moduleis capable of maintaining a constant length of optical path between twoor more points of the object and the scanning module.
 34. The apparatusof claim 33, wherein scanning module is capable of moving in a scanningdirection during scanning of an image of the object at an angle.
 35. Theapparatus of claim 33, wherein the image focused by said focusing deviceis obtained from light reflected off the object from a light sourcedisposed external to the scanning body.
 36. The apparatus of claim 33,wherein the image focused by said focusing device is obtained from lightreflected off a second object from a light source disposed internal tothe scanning body, the second object being disposed at a locationadjacent the scanning body.
 37. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein theimage focused by said focusing device is obtained from light reflectedoff a second object from a light source disposed internal to thescanning body, the second object being disposed at a location adjacentthe scanning body; and wherein said scanning module is capable ofobtaining an image of the second object when the second object isgenerally horizontally positioned with respect to the transparentwindow.
 38. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the object is at leastone of a blackboard or a chalkboard, or a combination thereof.
 39. Theapparatus of claim 33, wherein said scanning module is capable ofobtaining an image of the object when the object is generally verticallypositioned with respect to the transparent window.
 40. An apparatus,comprising: a scanning body; a transparent window disposed on a surfaceof the scanning body; a scanning module disposed within the scanningbody; a focusing device, wherein the focusing device is capable offocusing an image of an object through the transparent window, theobject being disposed at a location remote from the transparent window,wherein the scanning module is capable of obtaining an image of theobject focused by said focusing device; and wherein the focusing deviceis capable of maintaining a constant length of optical path between twoor more points of the object and a scanning module.
 41. The apparatus ofclaim 40, wherein the focusing device is capable of focusing an image ofthe object through a reflective lens and capable of fine tuning theposition of the reflective lens.
 42. The apparatus of claim 40, whereinthe focusing device is capable of focusing an image of the objectthrough a curved surface of a reflective lens.
 43. The apparatus ofclaim 40, wherein the image focused by said focusing device is obtainedfrom light reflected off the object from a light source disposedexternal to the scanning body.
 44. The apparatus of claim 40, whereinthe image focused by said focusing device is obtained from lightreflected off a second object from a light source disposed internal tothe scanning body, the second object being disposed at a locationadjacent the scanning body.
 45. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein theimage focused by said focusing device is obtained from light reflectedoff a second object from a light source disposed internal to thescanning body, the second object being disposed at a location adjacentthe scanning body; and wherein said scanning module is capable ofobtaining an image of the second object when the second object isgenerally horizontally positioned with respect to the transparentwindow.
 46. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the object is at leastone of a blackboard or a chalkboard, or a combination thereof.
 47. Theapparatus of claim 40, wherein said scanning module is capable ofobtaining an image of the object when the object is generally verticallypositioned with respect to the transparent window.